Crusader Helmet *Great Helm

The Crusader helmet refers to the type of helmet that was popularly worn by the European knights during the medieval Crusades. The Crusades began in the 11th century and continued until the 15th century.

The crusades11

During this period, the helmets used by the crusading knights evolved significantly in their shape and design.

The most popular helmet and first helmet used by the crusader knights was the flat top Great Helm. The Great Helm offered many advantages to the crusaders but also came with some disadvantages.

The-Crusades-Crusader-Knight

Crusader Helmet Design

The cylinder shaped Crusader helmet was typically designed for maximum protection. For this purpose, it was heavily built and made from iron, weighing as much as 10 pounds.

The helmet was usually flat-topped and had tiny slots for the eyes and mouth. These eye slots were called Occulariums.

Flat Top Crusader Helmet 2

Some variations of the crusader helmet came with a curved design at the top so as to mitigate the possibility of receiving heavy blows to the top of the head to which the flat-topped version was susceptible.

The Sugarloaf Helm was such as Design

Knights Medieval Helmet

Sugarloaf Helm

Since the crusader helmet could quickly heat up when directly under the sun, later pieces of cloth were added to help save its exterior from the direct heat of the sun.

Crusader Helmet

Crusader Helmet Usage

The crusader helmet evolved sometime at the beginning of the 13th century.

By the mid-13th century, this type of helmet had gained widespread usage among European knights. Although the helmet was very effective in warding off blows, it was cumbersome to wear.

Crusader Helm Flat Topped

Crusading knights often took off the helmet after the initial clash in the battles and continued fighting with the coif or the iron skull cap they wore under it known as a Cervelliere.

Coif chainmail for the head and neck

Coif Chainmail Armor

In combat, the bascinet eventually became more useful than the crusader helmet. And so, the crusader helmet fell into disuse in the 15th century. However, it continued to be used in non-combat situations such as in knight tournaments.

Bascinet Helmet Medieval Helmets

Crusader Helmet Advantages

  1. The crusader helmet was solidly constructed with the primary purpose of physically protecting the wearer.
  2. The overall structure of a crusader helmet had few openings of small size, making it virtually impossible for the enemy weapons to be thrust into gaps.
  3. By guarding the wearer against both piercings and heavy blows, the crusader helmet effectively rendered the head of the wearer very secure.

templar knight tag by jaybak d66hrev

Crusader Helmet Disadvantages

Knights-in-Battle-Cartoon

Although it was quite useful in many ways, the crusader helmet also came with some disadvantages.

  • The sheer weight of the helmet and its design made it challenging to wear
  • It had two tiny eye slots to the front, the peripheral vision of the wearer was blocked. As a result, knights wearing the Great Helm had their visibility impaired.
  • Due to such scarce openings and the solid build, the crusader helmet was also prone to overheating quite quickly. This was particularly a problem since many crusade battles were fought in hotter climes.
  • It was also hard for knights to communicate with each other while wearing the helmet given the tiny mouth slot which served only to aid in breathing.

crusader kinight